Char Futur 4
Char Futur 4
Mouse over "
[Client Values; Actual values in
17,500  Cost |
| 1750350 HP Hit Points |
| 27/2816.61/28 t Weight Limit |
- Commander (Radio Operator, Loader)
- Gunner (Loader)
- Driver
| 620620 hp Engine Power |
| 60/20 km/h Speed Limit |
| 3636 deg/s Traverse |
| 22.9637.33 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio |
| YesYes Pivot |
| // mm Hull Armor |
| 140/90/30140/90/30 mm Turret Armor |
APCR/HEAT/HE
APCR/HEAT/HE Shells |
1210/4800/820
1210/4800/820 Shell Cost |
| 390/390/480390/390/480 HP Damage |
| 264/330/53264/330/53 mm Penetration |
|
4.62 r/m ▲
4.62 r/m Magazine-fed Gun ▲ Rate of Fire Magazine-fed Gun |
|
2145 ▲
Magazine-fed Gun
▼
Magazine-fed Gun
▲
2145 Magazine-fed Gun ▲
Magazine-fed Gun
▼
Magazine-fed Gun
▲ Damage Per Minute Magazine-fed Gun |
|
0.34 m ▲
0.34 m With 50% Crew: 0.421 m ▲ Accuracy With 50% Crew: 0.421 m |
| 2.2 s 2.2 s Aim time |
| 3030 deg/s Turret Traverse |
| 360° Gun Arc |
| -7°/+11°-7°/+11° Elevation Arc |
| 3232 rounds Ammo Capacity |
| 1010 % Chance of Fire |
| 380 m 380 m View Range |
| 750 m 750 m Signal Range |
IX
17500
The Char Futur 4 is a French tier 9 premium medium tank.
In 1977, in France, several designs were considered as part of the development of a new tank, including the Projet 4. No metal prototype was produced. However, its further development led to creation of the French main battle tank Leclerc.
The Char Futur 4 can be obtained using expedition tokens earned from Frontline and Steel Hunter 2020, and is now also available for Battle Pass points. Much like the real-life Leclerc the tank features good mobility, protection, and vision, and excellent firepower.
Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables
Modules
Guns
| Tier | Gun | Penetration (mm) |
Damage (HP) |
Rate of fire (rounds/minute) |
Dispersion (m/100m) |
Aiming time (s) |
Weight (kg) |
Price (  )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | 105 mm D. 1504-4-1 | 264/330/53 | 390/390/480 | 4.62 | 0.34 | 2.2 | 3000 | 300000 |
Engines
| Tier | Engine | Engine Power (hp) |
Chance of Fire on Impact (%) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IX | E-9 | 620 | 10 | 1426 | 85000 |
Suspensions
| Tier | Suspension | Load Limit (т) |
Traverse Speed (gr/sec) |
Rmin | Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IX | Projet 4-1 | 28 | 36 | 0 | 4100 | 50000 |
Radios
| Tier | Radio | Signal Range (m) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | TRVP-13-A1 | 750 | 80 | 54000 |
Compatible Equipment
Compatible Consumables
Player Opinion
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Good aim time, muzzle velocity, penetration, and alpha damage
- The four-round autoloader provides good burst damage
- Reasonably armored for a French medium tank, can pull off some bounces
- Good hit point pool and decent concealment
- Good speed and acceleration
Cons:
- Poor hull and turret traverse for a medium
- Very poor gun handling
- Long intra-clip reload and very long full clip reload
- Large hull for a lighter French tank
- Limited ammo capacity
Performance
The Char Futur 4 is a very confusing tank from the start. As a (relatively) small French autoloading vehicle it has four shells in its magazine. Each shell deals an average of 390 damage but at the cost of a four-second wait between shells, and the reload for the full clip is very long as well (but on par with the Tier IX and X Bat.-Châts). It also has a larger frame than most similar tanks, and also seriously lacks gun handling and turning capabilities. These traits are enough to make most players rethink their approach entirely, and rethink it you must.
The first advantage the Char gains over its French companions is in sniping. At longer ranges your improved accuracy combined with fast-traveling shells and good alpha damage will shine, and the autoloading will sometimes allow you to hit with two or three shots when others only have time for one. The more reserved positions also give you time to sit back and reload in safety. If you prefer to take a much more aggressive position in the Bat.-Châtillon style you can sometimes do so. Remember, you have more HP and a more trollish (i.e. better) French armor profile that can stand up to some HE shells but it still requires a great deal of careful play to stay alive on the front lines.
The Futur might be better known as the sniper version of the Bat.-Châtillon 25 t AP, with a Turbocharger it has roughly the same top speed and acceleration stats. And while it is often better to stay back and play the role of a sniper with a slow-unloading but powerful clip, the Char Futur 4 can always come in to take out the weaker (or weakened) enemy tanks when it comes to it.
The Futur 4's crew layout -- Commander (radio operator, loader), Gunner (loader), Driver -- matches those of the Bourrasque, Lorraine 40 t, and Miel, all four French mediums can use the same crew without penalty. The crews from only two non-premium tanks: the Bat.-Châtillon 25 t AP and it's higher-tier cousin the Bat.-Chât 25 t, can also use the Futur for perfect crew training.
This one can be fun to play, just keep its oddities in mind and enjoy the ride!
Early Research
Recommended Field Modifications: Suspension Arm Tuning (even less accuracy penalty during movement/hull traverse), Anti-Reflective Headlights Coating (better overall concealment), and (arguably) New Aiming Gears (better aiming speed/less accuracy loss after firing). And once you have Field Mods level VII don't forget to turn on Accelerated Crew Training.
Suggested Equipment
Documented Tank and Crew Builds
As a new Char Futur 4 owner you should give some serious thought to correcting its gun handling deficiencies. An Improved Rotation Mechanism and/or Vertical Stabilizer can go a long way toward improving this to the point of allowing one to perform effective snap-shots (the former should go into the Mobility slot, of course). Alternatively Mobility Improvement and/or Fire-Control Systems are also good choices -- maybe not quite as snappy but with the former you also benefit from top/reverse speed, specific engine power, and traverse speed bonuses for getting into and out of trouble. At least one of these pieces of equipment should be used to be able to respond more quickly to the usual high-tier enemies who poke and peek and then quickly pull back into hard cover.
Other good choices are for any sneaky long-range platform: Binocular Telescope, Coated Optics, Improved Aiming, Improved Ventilation, and/or Low-Noise Exhaust System.
Gallery
Historical Info
In contrast to most Western programs of the time, more emphasis was placed on active than passive protection to limit overall vehicle mass. Mobility for evading enemy fire and fire control systems were given particular attention. Nevertheless it was a stated design goal to achieve at least double the protection against kinetic-energy penetrators in comparison to the level attained in then-current MBT's of the 50-ton weight class, the latter indicated at about 400mm RHA equivalency. The higher level of protection would also protect against shaped charges.
Partnership with a foreign state was sought to limit unit cost, and found when the United Arab Emirates ordered 436 vehicles, adding to the 426 units already planned for the French Army.
In 1986 the project was started under the name "Leclerc", and six prototypes were swiftly built. Hence the Char Futur 4 is essentially one of the design prototypes of the Leclerc, which was actually built and saw service.
And the Char Futur 4's legacy is seen in the Leclerc: moderately good protection, good observation and mobility, with (always a French requirement) excellent firepower. An estimated 70 Leclerc tanks of the UAE were deployed in combat operations in Yemen (near Aden) as part of the Saudi-led coalition. During one month, three tanks were damaged, two by antitank mines and one by an RPG, which did some damage but did not pierce the hull. One of the periscopes was hit by a ATGM, killing the driver and injuring the commander. None of these tanks were completely destroyed.
In October 2019 during the Iron Spear inter-alliance exercise Leclercs participated, and (in score) surpassed the American M1A2 Abrams, German, Spanish and Norwegian Leopard 2, Italian C1 Ariete, and Polish PT-91.
The Leclerc has mostly seen deployment in low-intensity conflicts, including 15 stationed in Kosovo (KFOR) and 13 others deployed in south Lebanon until 2010 for peacekeeping operations, during which their performance was judged satisfactory by French officials.
Historical Gallery
